Freeing us from our pulp prison

Paper is dead. Long live paper.

It’s one of the curious contradictions of the 21st Century and one on which EncrypTix is capitalizing. The El Segundo, CA, startup bankrolled by Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen promises to put heavy-duty encryption technology in the hands of travelers, letting them print airline tickets, car rental vouchers and even boarding passes before they leave home.

If the thought of not having to stand in line while a ticket agent hunts-and-pecks her way through your itinerary sounds appealing, then here’s some good news: Your wait is nearly over. EncrypTix tickets will be accepted in 2001 on several carriers (it’s too soon to say exactly which ones) plus a number of hotel chains and car rental companies.

How? The system, called Secure Delivery By EncrypTix, will let you electronically access your ticket immediately, either by printing it or by storing the ticket on a mobile device such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or cell phone. You can also choose to have rental car certificates and hotel vouchers securely transmitted to you. But that’s only part of the story.

I asked EncrypTix chief executive Jim Rowan to explain how else this technology would change the way we travel:

- “Dynamic” itineraries. Say you’re taking a cruise from Miami and you want to include parasailing or snorkeling on your schedule – EncrypTix allows multiple reservations to be booked on the same ticket. “On a printed ticket, the paper would contain a two-dimensional barcode for each transaction,” explains Rowan. “These barcodes store the information about the traveler and transaction, and are scanned at the venue for verification purposes.”

- More than airline tickets. EncrypTix is exploring other travel industry sectors that might benefit from its technology. Its partnerships with Global Distrition Systems (GDS) providers Sabre and Galileo, which represent approximately 80% of all airline bookings in the United States, mean that it has the wherewithal to deploy its technology fast. “Our partners are typically industry-leading corporations that care about protecting their brands and customers – as a result, they value the security of their system,” says Rowan. Think bus, train and vacation package, for starters.

- Widespread acceptance. The company’s market research points to a proliferation in wireless use among travelers in the near future. Translation: the encrypted electronic tickets offered by EncrypTix won’t just be widely available, but widely accepted. “We believe the wireless age has just begun, and as wireless use increases, so will the demand for secure wireless storage, delivery and authentication services,” notes Rowan.

- You won’t pay for it (probably). Tickets delivered securely are designed to be more cost-effective than conventional paper tickets. But that doesn’t mean they’re free. For now, the costs associated with an EncrypTix ticket will probably be absorbed by the agency or airline. Says Rowan: “EncrypTix will charge a nominal delivery and printing fee per transaction that will vary by supplier as well as by the type of ticket that is being delivered.” Chances are, thought, that the fee won’t show up as a surcharge on your next airline ticket – yet.

- Peace of mind. EncrypTix claims to offer the highest level of security available for commercial transactions. It’s the exclusive licensee of sophisticated encryption technology developed by Stamps.com and approved by the U.S. government. Among its security features: FIPS 140-1 compliant design, Level IV compliant hardware, Level III compliant software, secure smart card technology for venue scanning, indicia bar code verification and fraud detection and automatic cross-checking of cryptographically secure audit logs. You get the idea. Adds Rowan: “EncrypTix is providing services and solutions for today’s world, with the flexibility and versatility of tomorrow.”

It remains to be seen whether EncrypTix is the final word in ticket delivery. More likely, it’s a necessary intermediate step that will usher in an age in which electronic tickets can truly be called electronic. And one in which we’re finally freed of our pulp prison.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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